dan@candide.Berkeley.EDU (Dan Ruderman) (01/03/90)
We have a 4/260 with 2 327MB SCSI drives and a SCSI tape. Is it possible to add an external SCSI drive without installing another board? Thanks, Dan Ruderman
weber@cg-atla.agfa.com (Jeff Weber) (01/15/90)
In article <4231@brazos.Rice.edu> dan@candide.Berkeley.EDU (Dan Ruderman) writes: >X-Sun-Spots-Digest: Volume 9, Issue 5, message 9 of 19 > >We have a 4/260 with 2 327MB SCSI drives and a SCSI tape. Is it possible >to add an external SCSI drive without installing another board? > >Thanks, >Dan Ruderman * We've been through this a few times before, you'd think I'd * remember to just keep the info in a file and mail the file! The X/X60 package has an INTERNAL version of Sun's SCSI H/A that runs the SCSI cable off the backplane (where the boards plug in) up through the inside of the enclosure to the SCSI devices in the top. The problem is: a) there is no external connection on the SCSI board, b) there is a way to extend the SCSI cable but not without violation of the FCC that is reliable c) you only have 20feet of cable length to spread around anyway. Your options are: 1) buy another SCSI H/A from anyone who had drivers (you can still boot off your Sun board so the new one doesn't have to be Sun boot compatable), 2) build a kluge cable to bring out the bus and blow off FCC. I've done both and have reasonable way to do #2 but unless you're pretty good with your hands or real tight on the budget I'd do #1. Good boards are available from XYLOGICS, Interphase and Ciprico that have installation support and drivers.
litwin@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (02/02/90)
This addition to your system can be a pain, as I have had occasion to
discover. What makes it easier is a kit from Artecon called an Internal
to External SCSI adapter ( also known as an "Innie-to-Outie" cable ). This
is essentially the "custom" cable that was mentioned. It simply extends
the internal SCSI bus and connects via ribbon cable to a SCSI connector
attached to a free slot on the back of the machine. Unfortunately, it is
very badly documented, and unless you have done it before, you risk
tearing up the ribbon cable. However, don't let my bad experience deter
you too much; it's certainly worth the $125. or so they charge compared to
hacking your own cable assembly together ( my apologies to the more
dedicated cable hackers among you ;-) ). It's quite useful when you're
adding an Exabyte 2.3GB tape backup, for example. BTW, Artecon's phone
number is 800-USA-ARTE. And no, I'm not affiliated with them. Also, the
abovementioned kit works with 3/260 pedestals as well.
Karl Wiebe / Systems Specialist / BASIS, Inc.
{ uunet, sun, ucbvax }!unisoft!basis!karl (UUCP)
basis!karl@unisoft.com (Internet)
( Not the owner of this account; don't send email here! )
"Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will" --Gramsci